Time indicating apparatus

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a time-indicating apparatus using neither figures nor pointers, wherein the time-indicating plane is divided into the hour, minute and second indicating sections of a multiple of twelve and electric lamps or the like provided inside said sections are turned on or off by means of a switch connected to the clock mechanism to indicate the time by illuminating said sections successively.

[22] Filed:

United StateSPatent 11 1 Fuk umoto TIME INDICATING APPARATUS [75] Inventor: Shigeru Fukumoto, Nishinomiy Japan [73] Assignee: Kahushiki Kaisha Suncrun Research Office, Higashinada-ku, Kobe, Japan" Attorney-M. Arthur Auslander et al.

Aug. 13, 1971 2'11 Appl. No.: 171,434

[52] [1.8. Ci. 58/50 R, 58/127 R [51] Int. Cl........ G04b 19/30, G04b 19/06 [58] Field of Search 58/23 R, 50 R, 127 R;

1111 3,775,964 1451 Dec. 4, 1973 Primary ExamineF-Richard B. Wilkinson Assistant ExaminerEdith C. Simmons Jackmon [57 ABSTRACT This invention relates to a time-indicating apparatus using neither figures nor pointers, wherein the timeindicating plane is' divided into the hour, minute and second indicating sections of a multiple of twelve and electric lamps or the like provided inside said sections I are turned on or off by means of a switch connected to the clock mechanism to indicate the time by illurni-. nating said sections successively.

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SHEET 0211f 10 PATENTEUHE 4m: 3,775.964

sum -03 0F 10 Fig-7 PATENTEDBEE 41913 sum 050$ 10 W M58 9 F. llllllllll H INVENTOR.

PATENTEDUEE, 41m 3.775.964

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SHEET 100F l0 a "1' TIME INDICATING APPARATUS This invention relates to a time-indicating apparatus,

'more specifically, to a time-indicating apparatus wherein each of the hour indicating areas andthe minute indicating areas are divided into 12 sections or its multiple, which'constitut the time indicating planes to be illuminated or to emit'light by turns.

As conventional time-indicating apparatus, 1 horologe such as clockwork one or electrical one having a dial 1 plate, an hour hand, a minute hand and a'second hand to indicate time, have been in generaluse apart from sandglasses,'-.water-clocks, etc. The digital horologe in recent fashion indicates time numerically, but it is still difficult to identify time clearlyin a dark place or from a distance. With the recent speed iip of traffic facilities, it is needed to identify 'tiinein amoment by horolo'ges in or out of the vehicle, further it has become more necessary to identify time at night under the same lux as in the case of illumination. Furthermore, in order to have the existing state of things judged effectively, it is sometimes needed to photograph time at the same time as the on-the-spot photographing in the ground or photographing of otheroutdoor activities. I-Iowever,'horologes which can safely be used under such circum-,

stances have not uet been in practical use, because of the fact that it has been very difficult technically to design the apparatus which is simple in' construction, is

usable for a long 'periodof time, yet is provided with a. switch means to switch on and off the luminous bodies of a multiple of 12 by turns at a high degree of accu-v ra y- This invention was made with a view to eliminating the above defects and makes ita prime object to provide a time indicating apparatuswhich serves also as an illumination device by" its glowing, instead of the conventional horolog'ehaving an hour hand and a minute hand such as a wall-clock or a table-clock and a digital horolog e. a j I v It is another object of this invention to provide a mechanical switch of simple. construction which operates accurately .to switch on and ofi" the luminous body at each section of a'time indicating plane.

, It is also another 'object'of this invention to provide a small size alarm clock or a panel clock in which an electric bulb of particular shape, such as triangular one, is employed in eachsection of the time indicating plane.

It is also another object of this invention to provide a small size time-indicating apparatus of, clocks described hereinbefore and having the time indicating board adopting an electroluminescence panel by an electroluminous substance in eachfsection of the time indicating plane. v

It is also another object of this invention to provide an electrical time-indicating apparatus whose switch means includes electrical oscillating apparatus and is driven by the pulse. of every one'minute, of the large size described in the above objects and of the small size made portable by the IC circuit.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a time indicating apparatus having a time correcting device and being serviceable also as a sign pole or an indoor lantern by indicating time with lightand the time indicatingplane of which'is realizable in quite different shapessuch as a pole, a barrel or a street lamp.

Other and further objects of this invention will become apparent upon referring to the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of one embodiment of the timein'dicat'ing apparatus according to' the present invention,

, FIG. 2 shows the division of colors for each of thehour indicating sectionsand the minute'indicatingsections of the time indicating board of a time-indicating apparatus in FIG. 1,

FIG. Sis a perspective view of .a part of the time I indicating apparatus shown in FIG.' 1, from which an upper lid and side platesare removed,

FIG. 4 isa perspective'view of'acut-out portion of a time indicating board, showing cut patterns a e of the surface thereof,

FIG. 5 is a perspective'view of the second embodiment of this invention, partly broken away, 7

FIG. 6"isa longitudinal sectionalview of the center of FIG. 5, r

FIG. 7 is a front view of the time indicating board of a the second embodiment of this invention,

FIG. 8 is a'plan viewof the switch mechanism connected to the clock mechanismand enclosed in the time-indicating apparatus, 1

FIG. 9 isa side elevation of the right side of the switch mechanism shown in FIG. 8,

FIG. 10 is across sectional view of the switch mechanism, takenon the sectional line 10-40 in FIG. a.

FIG. 1l is a cross sectional view of the switch mechanism, on an enlarged scale, taken on thesectionall line 11 --11 'in FIG.

FIG. 12 and FIG. 14 are developed views of the rotary switch drum,

FIG.=13' and FIGQ 15 are wiring diagrams for the switch mechanism of the rotary switch drum,

'FIG. 16: is a front elevation of the disc-shape switch,

FIG. 17 is a side elevation, on an enlarged scale, a

'the part encircledwith achain line'in FIG. 16,

- FIG. 18 is a perspective view showing the main portion of a multi-contact point used'with an embodiment of this invention,

FIG. 19 is aperspective view of a pawl shaped" cam "and a ratchet wheel,

FIGS. 27 29 are diagram-illustrating electrical pulses occurring in-the embodiment of the invention FIGS.'30 36 are diagrams to explainthe fifth embodiment of this invention, in which FIG. 30 is a block diagram combining an oscillating apparatus with a driving section, FIG; 31 is a block diagram of a time corr'ecting section, FIG. 32 is 'a block diagram of an electric power source apparatus, FIG. 33 is a series-connect diagram of an oscillating apparatus and FIGS.-3.436

are diagramsfof signal waves and sixth embodiment.

, FIGS. 37(a) and 37(1)) are perspective views of electric bulbs adopted for the time indicating board of the This embodiment is a'drum switch of changeover type time-indicating apparatus which is driven by mo.

tors." A time-indicating apparatus 51 of square I pillar shape in FIG. -1, which being engaged to a wall 53 by support means 52a, 52b, contains therein a clock mechanism 54 and a switch mechanism 55. Its side board 56 is divided into 12 time indicating sections by horizontal lines S S S andis also divided by a vertical line 57 into'large sections h h h and small sections m m m large section indi-v cates l hour, i.e., the uppermost h indicates 1 oclock' 11,, indicating l2-oclock. By the switch mechanism to be described hereinafter, an electric lamp in each large section is kept lighted for one hour by turns to indicate respective hour. The small areais a minute indicating plane at intervals of minutes. By the switch mechanism '55 to be described hereinafter, electric lamps in small sections are switched on successively at 5-minute intervals from the uppermost section down to the lowermost section and thus electric lamps in all Small sections m m m are ON with the lapse of 55 minutes but with the lapse of 60 minutes, only the electric lamp at the uppermost m is kept lighted and the other electric lamps are switched off.

FIG. 1 shows that the'apparatus indicates 5:15 by the illuminating of h and'm m and ms. The time indicating board 56 comprising h m h m h m is colored as shown in FIG. 2, in which thecolor of h m is greyblue, h m is sky blue, h m is blue, h m is violet, hsm is yellowish green, h m is green, h,m, is ivory, h m is salmon, h m is yellow, h m, orange, h m

is pink and h m is red.

As above-mentioned, when the time indicating board 56 is made as a colored board, a transparent board or a plastic board having such patterns 'or the surface thereof, as shown in FIG 4 (a)-(e), as diamond cut 4a, angled cut 4b, fluted cut 40, checkered cut 4d or honeycomb cut 4e is adopted. The reason why these cut boards should be employed is to make the inside invisible, as well as to make it easy to distinguish colors when illuminated. Provided at the inside of each-of horizontal lines 8,, S S to indicate the time is a partition plate 66 whereby only one large section of h,, h h is illuminated at all times. Thicker sectioning plates 58 are inserted at intervals of three steps to facil itate' identifying of the time.

,Accommodated in a lower stand 59 of square shape are the clock mechanism 54 which is driven by a small size motor and the switch meachanism 55, which are connected to the electric power source through a cord 60. This small size motor may be replaced by a magnet or a spring according to the installation place. Props 62 are made hollow and lead wire is threaded therethrough. Numeral 63 denotes an electric lamp to illuminate the hour indicating plane. Numeral 64 denotes an electric lamp to illuminate the minute indicating plane. The time-indicating apparatus 51 is providedwith two electric lamps at each section, namely, 24 electric lamps for illuminating h h h and further 24 electric lamps for illuminating m m l m Numeral 65 is a fluorescent lamp arranged at the center of the time-indicating apparatus 51 to illuminate the apparatus as a whole. Numeral 67 denotes a partition with the lapse of time. FIG. 8 is a plan view of the switch apparatus which successively, controls electric lampsinside the hour-indicating plane at intervals of l hour and switches on electric lamps inside the minute indicating planes in due order at intervals of 5 minutes. Numeral 71 denotes a shaft of a rotary switch drum 77 which switches on and off the electric lamps inside the hour indicating planes. Numeral is a shaft of a rotary switch drum 72 which switches on electric lampsinside the minute indicating planes in due order. Numerals 78, 79 are support plates to support shafts 70, 71 of these rotary switch drums. If the shaft 70 for the minute indicating is connected to a shaft for the minute indicating of clock mechanism, the shaft 70 makes one revolution for every 1 hour but the shaft 71 for the hour indicatingv makes one-twelfth revolution for every 1 hour by means of gear mechanism in which a gear 80 connected to the shaft 70 for the minute indicating is engaged with a gear 81 connected to the shaft 71 for the hour indicating. If the second indicating plane is to be arranged, the shaft for the second indicating is connected to a shaft for the second indicating of clock mechanism or a new shaft for the second indicating is added by the multiplying gear fromthe minute indicating shaft 70. A 12-step good conductor board is put on the rotary switch drum 72 in order to switch on electric lamps inside the minute indicating plane in due order at intervals of 5 minutes. If it is desired to switch on electric lamps 64 in due order at intervals of l min-. ute, a 60-step good conductor board should be put on the'rotary switch drum. Sm Sm Sm are L type contact pieces of good conductor. These contact pieces press lightly the rotary switch drum 72 for the minute indicating are fitted to the stand plate with small screws 68a. Each of L type contact pieces Sm Sm,, Sm is connected to the electrode with respective electric wire 69a. The L type contact piece Sm' is connected to the cathode. As the good conductor plate 75 which makes contact with Sm is put on all the circumference of the rotary switch drum 72 for the minute indicating, it is cathodic at all times. Contact'pieces Sm Sm Sm are connected to the anode through electric lamps 64 for the minute indicating. In FIG. 8, all of the-13 L type contact pieces Sm Sm Sm are in boards 1,, I

face of a rotary switch drum 77 for the'hour indicating function- An insulatorboard 73b is put on the-surface of said good conductor board 74, excepting the part where it makes contact with the L type contact piece Sh Square contact pieces 76, -76, parts .of which are att'achedto conductor board 74 aresattachedto the surface of said insulator: board 73b,' as indicated by FIG. 11, with the shift by one-twelfth revolution. Ltype contact pieces'of good conductor Sh ,;Sh,, ..S h press'lightly the rotary switch drum 77 for the hour indicating and are fixed to the standplate with small screws'68b. Eachof L type contact piecesSh Sh,,,. Sh is connected to the electrodeby electric wire 69b. The good conductotboard 4 s .co insctedto he cat ode through the L type contact pieceSh v As said .good conductor board74 and square eontact pieces 76, 76 are connected as mentioned herei'nbefore, twelve square contact: pieces, 76, 76 arealways cathodic. L type contact pieces Sh Sh Sh are connected tothe anode through electric lamps 63 for illuminating the hour indicating plane. The rotary switchdrum 77 in FIG. 8 corresponds to the case where the square contact piece and Sh are in contact and h, (l o.clock) in FIG. 1 is illuminated. With the revolution of the rotary switch drum 77 for the hour indicating, the L type contact piece Sh and the square contact piece are separated but at the same time the L type. contact piece Sh ;and the succeeding squarecontact piece, make contact with-each other, in other words, the electric lamp inside I h, is switched off butat the same time the electric lamp 1 inside h is lighted. Thus, at every one-twelfth revolution of the rotary switch drum 77 for the hourindicating, electric lampsinside thehour indicating plane are switched on and'off in due order to indicate the hour. The arrow L indicates the direction in which the rotary switch drum revolves. 86a ancl86b are elec tric power sources. 7

Referring to the rotary switch of disc shape which are substitute the above-mentioned drum-shape rotary switch, an explanation is made below, with reference to FIG. 16 and FIG. 17. Numeral 87 denotes a rotary disc supported with support plates 90, 91- fitted to a rotary shaft 89 which is connectedto anyone of the hourshaft, minute-shaft and second-shaft of clock mechanism. Put on the inner surfaceof said rotary disc 87 is a good conductor board 94, to which two contact pieces 92,93 of good conductor are fitted. The good conductor board 94 is in contact with a L type contact piece 95 of good conductor which is connected to-the cathode. Numeral88 denotes a fixed disc provided oppositely to the rotary disc 87. A plate composed of good conductor board E E E and insulator I is put'on-the inner surface of the fixed disc 88. a

Good conductor boards E E E are connected to the anode through electric lamps96, 96 E, and

- E,, B and E and E and E are connected by contact pieces E E and E respectively so that theyare made the sameelectrode in pairs. On the circumference of the fixed disc 88 areformed electrodes of a multiple of 12. Numeral 97 is an electric power source. The distance D, between the two contact pieces 92 93 of good conductor is equal to the sum-of the width D (of insulator boards 1,, I I and the. width 1), (of

insulator boards I-,, IQ, l i.e D,=D +D when either of contact pieces 92 and 93 of good conductor makes contact with either of electrodes and E either of electrodes E and E either of electrodes E and E and the contact piece. 92 shifts to the succeeding electrode E even if. continuity of circuit is broken by e, compensate continuityand keep the electric lamp 96 lighted. Thus, the discshaperotary switch according to this invention is not bulky but compact and keeps the electric lamp 96 inside the time indicating plane lighted at the change of time; indicating plane. the. rotary switch drum 77 for the hour indicating revolves 'at a very slow speed, i.e., one revolution forevery 12 hours or one-twelfth revolution per Hour, it involves technical diffieultyto shift instantaneously the contact with any electrode to the succeeding electrode. To avoid contacting with two electrodes atthe same time oriseparating from two electrodes at the same time the following method'is adopted. As indicated by FIG. 10,,a gear 81 with 12 teeth connected to theshaft 71 for'the hour indicating is engaged with a gear 8 0, having only one tooth of the same module as the teeth of said gear 81 and connected to the shaft 70 for theminute indicating. Under thisarrangement, whilethe shaft 70 for the minute indicating makes one revolution, the shaft 71 for the hour indicating makes one-twelfth revolution,

namely, the time required for the shaft 71 for the hour V indicating to make one-twelfth revolution is 5 minutes and the shaft 71 is keptstanding for the remaining 55' minutes because the gear 80for the minute indicating has only one tooth. The gear 81 connected to the shaft 71 for the hour-indicating may have 24 teeth. In this case, the time during which there is danger of two square contact pieces and a L type contact piece touch or separate at thesarhe time, can be minimized. Setting of the minute at statting can easily be done if gears 80 and 81 are made movablemanually. i

i Embodiment 2 This embodiment is an example of a time-indicating apparatus having .the pattern at the surface as shown in FIG. 4 and which is serviceable as the box-shaped sign v pole.

As shown in FIG. 5, a time-indicating apparatus 51a is shaped like the box-by the time indicating board of the front plane56a the back plane 56a and the side plane s,1 02. The hour indicating area h, to h is divided from the minute indicating area m, to m by an annular band 98 and thetwo areas are divided into h k h and m m m respectively. Theinside of said time-indicating.apparatusj is divided into the desired number of sections with the curved cover segment 99 minute, indicating lamps l l and radialcove segment 100 so that each section of said time indicating board 5 6a may be illuminated individually and hour indicating lamps L L L and t I are disposed in each chamber. The other constructions of this embodiment are the same as of the first embodiment. Numeral 127 is a leg ofthe time-indicating apparatus 51a for use wh n, i! i ere t d O lroof of a bi i d g- T t meindicating apparatus 51a is made in such a mannerthat 1 i indica i g boar s 5 a a d the advertisement side hoards 102, are illuminated by a common fluoresccnt amp 10 fo illumina gj c chamber here FIG. 7shows,onthe time indicating board 56a, the coloredperiod of time from,5:15 to. 5:20.

Embodime 31 I 7 Thisembodimenttshown in FIG. 18) is another one example pf the switching mechanism described in the first embodiment of this invention and this switching mechanism is provided 'with desired function and with a simple construction for operating in scale of 12 circuit of double-stage type by the input and therefore can portion 126 and a circuit including lamps l nected to the center'ofia driving lever 106 on said plate A switching mechanism 107 is composed of the following three'parts: a ratchet wheel 107a, a drum portion l07b which has 12 steps 107d molded from an insulating material on the periphery ofthe cylinder at the interval of the angle 30 and a driving pawl 107s. Said switching mechanism 107 may be molded as one body from an insulating material, such as hard plastics. Said switching mechanism 107 is supported by a shaft l07e between the plate 103 and a plate 109 which are connected with the supports 108a, 108b, 108c and 108d and, is fixed to afore-mentioned driving lever 106. The

' mechanism 107 makes one side revolution by a flexible pawl-110 to, engage with the ratchet wheel 107a -'and by a check pawl 111 to engage with said ratchet wheel107a. Twelve switching arms A A .A are insulated by a shaft 112 of insulating material and collars 117 and are mounted on said shaft, each corresponding to respective step 107d of the drum portion l07b of said switching mechanism 107.

A contact support plate 113 on which contact pieces G G G are arranged is disposed in such a manner that each of said-contact pieces 6,, G G always contacts with respective switching arms. A A A and acts as a spring to have said switching arms A A A contact with the surface of said drum portion 107b.

A common'contact. piece 114a attached to a plate 114 is arranged in such a manner that the switching arms A A A contact with the common contact piece 114a.when theyare lifted on the step 107d of said drum portion 107b. A driving pawl 1070 of the switching mechanism 107 is engaged with a ratchet wheel 115, at the under side of the upper plate 109, having 12 teeth on the same plane as said pawl l07c.

A rotary contact piece 1 18, which makes contact by turns with 12 points of contact K K K arranged on the periphery with a shaft 115a of said ratchet wheel as a center, is secured to the shaft 115a of said ratchet wheel 115 through the upper plate 109 and a contact plate 116 with printed wire which is fixed on said upper plate 109.

Said contact pieces G G G and 114a are connected internally to terminals B B B, Bcom, respectively of a terminal plate 119 and said contact points K K K and Kcom are connected respectively to terminals F F F and Fcom respectively of a terminal plate 120, and thus wiring with the other parts of the apparatus is facilitated. With reference to an embodiment in which this device is employed for the time-indicating apparatus, a description is made hereinafter on the'mechanical movement of the switch mechanism having the above described construction and the electrical circuit therefor.

FIG. 21 and FIG. 22 show a switching circuit made by the mechanism by this device and FIG. 20 shows, by the developed view of the drum portion 107b of the switching mechanism 107, the. condition of the connections of switching arms A A A and the condition of ON-OFF of the circuit. A circuit. including lamps L L L in FIG. 22 is' the hour indicating 1 in FIG. 21 is the minute indicating portion 125 at the interval of 5 minutes. 'L' and l are luminous bodies either of the electrical type such as a lamp or of the electron type such as electroluminous body. I i

As shown in FIG. 18, a switching cam 121 directly connected to a motor shaft whichmakes one revolution every 5 minutes, works on a circuit switch 122 of the magnet 104. Thus the magnet 104 makes an attraction operation every 5 minutes. With the movement of said magnet 104, an attraction piece 105 of said magnet moves a driving pawl 110 by a driving lever 106 and said pawl 110 moves one tooth of the ratchet wheel 107a, whereupon the switching mechanism 107 makes one-twelfth revolution, On opening of the circuit of the magnet 104, the attraction piece 105, the driving lever 106 and the pawl 1 10 get back to their original position by springs 123 and 124. This movement is repeated at every movement of the magnet 104 and the switching mechanism 107 makes an intermittent revolution by the angle of 30 or one-twelfth revolution each time. Switching arms A A A according to said intermittent revolution, are pushed on an oblique line portionl07bf of the drum portion 107b (refer to FIG. 20) to make contact with the common contact piece 114a. On the other hand, the switching A, is always on the oblique line portion 107b" of the drum portion 107b and always keeps contact with the common contact piece 114a. When the drum portion 107b accomplished one revolution while making intermittent revolutions, switching arms A A excepting A are separated at the same time from the drum portion 107b' and are separated from the common contact piece, 114a. At this stage, .the driving pawl. 107c of the switching mechanism 107 moves one tooth of the ratchet wheel 115, whereby a rotary contact piece 118 makes one-twelfth revolution and the contact position is moved from the contact point K, to thecontact point The circuits shown in FIG. 21 and FIG. 22 work by the mechanical movement hereinbeofre described. In respect to the circuit of the minute indicating portion at the interval of 5 minutes, a circuit indicating the time 0-5 minutes is always kept broken and with the lapse of every 5 minutes other circuits are successively broken in the order of the circuit I, of 5-10 minutes indicating portion, the circuit 1 of 10-15 minutes indicating portion the circuit 1 of 55-60 minutes indicating portion. Immediately after the circuit l of 55-60 minutes indicating portion is broken, the circuit 1 l are opened simultaneously and the circuits from the rotary contact piece 118 of the circuit of hourindicating portion 126 moves fromthe circuit L-l to L-2. This means that hour indicating portion 126 makes onehalf cycle at every one cycle of minute indiridtesan electric power' s'ource.

indicating panels m m sections m m into 12 equal parts'is a minutefindicating area. Each I v 9 cating board shown in FIG. 23 and lamps l l I shown in FIG. 21 are fixed to the inside of the minute indicating sections m,, m,, m Numeral 128 de- On the timeindicating'board 56a, hourindicating panels h h h are illuminated by turns, which is combined with the successive illumination of minute" ."m' whilem is emitting light, all panels from m to m emit light but with the lapse of minutes from the beginning of lighting of mi illumination of all panels from m m to m goes out. At this moment, if hg, is lighted, itis shifted to illumination of k Embodiment 4: I t

This embodiment is an example of the construction of an electroluminescence panel which is employed as a time indicatingboard 56b of atime-indicatingapparatus 51b.'The driving section is made by an electric circuit, however, it can be replaced -to the switching mechanism of the above-mentioned, .third embodiment. FIG. 23 illustrates a-tirne indicating board of cir- 'cular type. Sections h,, h h or an inner circledivided into 12 equal parts is an hourindicating area and m or an annular space divided section composes an individual electroluminescence panel. One of the sections h or electroluminescence panel isshownin FIG. 24 and FIG. 25. Numeral 131 denotes an electroluminous substance layer, atyboth sides of which are laid transparent electrodes 132,132. The outer peripheral edge of electroluminous sub-.

148 have a non-contact switch circuit, wherein a'phase inverting circuit is connected to the base of transistor.

Pulse] from the oscillating section-.138 is a low frequency of All time width as indicated by FIG 27. Pulse P from the frequency stepdown section 139, as indicated by FIG. 28, is made a cycle of S-minute and becomes the pulse of high tension at the pulse amplifying "section 140, as shown by FIG. 29. I

Principal electric current of the silicon control .element 144 whichwas triggered soas to maintain the luminescence of each of m m up to m,,, is made OFF at the same moment as thebuildup of pulse from the output tenninal of the scale of 12 counter section 141-and is made to flow through the medium of the switching section 143. Then, immediately afteruthe switching section 143 is made ON, m, alone is made to emit light; In the luminescence of the hour indicating 149 of silicon control element is madeOFF at the same panel section 147, triggering is effectedafterluminescence of h h and the principal electric current moment as the buildup of pulse from the output terminal of the scale of 12 counter 141 and is madeto flow through .the medium of the switching section 148. The output terminal of" the scale of 12 counter section 141 is connected to the scale of 12 counter 146 and is syn:

chronized with the afore-mentioned relation between the minute indicating panel 142 and the hour indicating panel 147. v I

I On the-timeindicating board 56b, hourindicating panels h h are illuminated by turns, which, is com- 7 bined with the successive illumination of minute indi- .cating panels mgm and while m is emitting light,

all panels from m to m emit light but with the lapse of 5 minutes from thebeginningof lighting of m illumination of all panels from m to m goes out. At this moment, if h is lighted, it is shifted to illumination of k Numeral 152 is a switch for regulating the time indiwhich determines frequency by using temperaturecompensating resistance and condenser, is adapted so as not to be changed by temperature. The oscillating section has a multivibrator type low frequency oscillator. Numeral 139 is a frequency stepdown section, to which a flip-flop circuit is cascade-connected. Numeral 140 is a pulse amplifying section, whereby the pulse stepped down at the section 139 is amplified enough to actuate the succeeding scale of 12 counter section 141. Each of m m m of the minute indicating panel area 142 is connected with respective silicon control element 144, throughthe medium of a12-core cable 145. Numeral 143 denotes a switching section. If an electric current is applied to the gate of the silicon con- 'trol'144 and is triggered, the principal electric current flowscontinuously. This principal electric current is made OFF at the switching section 143. i

In the hour indicating panel section .147, numeral 146 is a scale of 12 counter section; numeral 148 is a switching section; numeral 149 is a silicon control element; numeral 150 is a l2-core cable. The electric power source section 151 is connected to the switching sections 143 148. The scale of 12 counter sections 141, 146'have scale of 12 ring counters and introduce volta'gev which is gradually transferred from twelve output terminals by pulse impression. Switching sections 143,

cation. I 1

Liquid crystal can be used as electroluminous substance. In this case, the panel section is lighted by impression of voltage to indicate the time. In the foregoing embodiment, the minute is indicated by the intei'-.

vals of 5 minutesbut this can be changed to the indication atintervals 'of one minuteby increasing electroluminescence panels. Therefore, if thisdevice isapplied to a watch, itfacilitates reading of time or it offers easier reading of time than in the case of conventional watches.

Embodiment 5:

This embodiment shows one example of an oscillator for driving a time-indicating apparatus which comprises a plural of standardized originaloscillators such as tuning forks or crystals and an electric circuit.-

The oscillator in this embodiment can be adopted to the driving section of the time-indicating apparatus 51 in the first embodiment together with the switching mechanism in the third embodiment. I

The. construction of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 30, relates'tothe oscillatorv 161 for driving the time-indicating apparatus characterized in' that original oscillator 162a, 1452b of the standard frequency such as a plurality of tuning forks or crystals, a U5 step-down circuit 181 for obtaining the signal 182 of every 5 minutes, l/12 step-down circuit. 183 for obtaining the signal of therethrough and an amplitude regulating circuit are connected.

I of the output of each oscillator 162a, 1621) which is added at every moment and this outputbecomesthe wave of the output as shown in FIG. 35, whereby the signal which corresponds to the sum or the difference of frequencies of the original oscillators 162a, l62b appears. y I

This means that 1H2 of signal is included in the out- .put. This output is given to a band-pass filter circuit 164. This band-pass filter circuit 164 works only to pass therethrough the signal having the number of oscillation close tolI-Iz and can pick up only the signal of lI-Iz among signals obtained by the adder 163 and output wave thus produced is shown in FIG. 36A. Further; more,-to obtain signals such as one minute and one hour, a step-down counter should be operated. A wave shaping circuit shown in FIG. 36B is provided by an amplitude regulating circuit 165 in order to produce desired wave of output by said step-down counter. Out-'- put signal thus shaped becomes a signal of every 1 second of lI-Iz. This signal 166 becomes the signal 168 of every .lxminute by being passed through a scale of l /60 step-down counter 167 by the passage of (a) in FIG. 30, and further the signal 168 becomes the signal 170 of every 1 hour by being passed through a scale of H60 step-down counter 169. Time correcting part 171 is connected to the scale of l/60 step-down counters 167, 169.

The change-over switch for illuminating the luminous body is operated by signals 166, 168, 170 of a driving section 172 respectively for every second, every minute and every hour.

The above-mentioned signal 166 of lHz is connected with a 1/5 step-down circuit 181 forobtaining the signal of every 5 minute, l/l2 step-down circuit 183 for obtaining the signal of one hour and time correcting section '17'1"by'th'e' passage of (b) in FIG. 30. These step-down circuits can be connected with the switching mechanism of the time-indicating apparatuses 51, 51a

and 51b in the first and the second embodiments by this invention. I

Generally, when a plurality of oscillators oscillating at about the same number of oscillation are combined mechanically or electrically, oscillators draw each other and present the pull-in phenominon. In order to eliminate this combination, this invention adopts an adding amplifier, the principle of which is the same as that being employed in an analogue computer, whereby the combination is minimized and the pull-in phenomenon is avoided.

The characteristic of temperature and the characteristic of change with the lapse of time are made efficient if they are properly selected according to this invention because this invention adopts the signal corresponding to the sum or the balance of each oscillator, however, the irregularity of the number of vibration of the signal can not better be revised that of the original oscillator.

But by replacing the parts for which a counter has been used connectionally with the apparatus by this invention, the number of component parts can be reduced.

' Furthermore, the apparatus by this invention can be made at low cost and is efficient in the characteristic of temperature and the characteristic of change with the tion be easily installed in the LC. mechanism can be of a small size and it canbe available as a common clock for household use or a'portable clock.

The oscillator 161 having the above described con struction is embodied in the series connect diagram of FIG. 33. j I

Tuning forks TFa, TFb are about 28mm in the total length, and constitute an oscillation circuit of approximate 2,000I-Iz in combination with transistors Trl, Tr2. The load of a collector is given in such a manner that the capacity and the resistance are connected in parallel and thus the parastic oscillation caused by the higher frequency than 2,000I'Iz is prevented. Ct is'an adjusting part to make the balance of the frequency of two oscillators lI-Iz. Variable resistances VR! and VR2 are to adjust the strength of the oscillation made by tuning forks TFa, TFb. An adding amplifier and the band-pass filter circuit 164 to pass lI-Iz therethrough are constructed by resistances R1, R2, R3, R4, condenser C3 and transistor Tr3. The circuit which allows only lI-Iz to pass therethrough is constructed when the operating point of the transistor Tr3 is made the condition of cut-off and R4 and C3 are given as load. Resistances R1, R2, R3 and R4 and the transistor Tr3 construct an adding amplifier, the same as that of manalogue computer, though not so precise. Transistor Tr4 shapes waves and Tr5 forms the output circuit (not always necessary).

A time correcting part 171 is, as shown in a block diagram in FIG. 31, comprises a radio receiver 173, a time signal resonance circuit 174, a detecter 175 and a pulse amplifying circuit 176 and corrects a driving part 172 at regular intervals by utilizing signal 880I-Iz of a radio time signal.

FIG. 32 is a block diagram of an electrical power source means 177 added to the apparatus in this invention when it is employed both for alternating and direct currents and comprises a rectifying circuit 178, a smoothing circuit 179 and secondary battery 180.

An oscillator for driving a small size time-indicating apparatus such as a wrist-watch can be produced if the electric circuit part of the above apparatus is made by the LC. circuit. T

Embodiment 6:

This embodiment relates to a time indicating board in which small size electric bulbs in particular shape are employed for each section thereof, particularly, to a time indicating board in which electric bulbs 185a, 185b of particular shapes shown in FIG. 37 (a) (b) are employed in stead of each electroluminescence panel I of the time indicating board 56b employed in the fourth lapse of time. Furth'ennore, the apparatus by this invenembodiment.

The electric bulb la-in FIG. 37(a) is employed for each section of h,, h h of the hour indicating area, and the electric bulb b in FIG. 37(b) is employed for each section of m,, m m of the minute indicating area. Numeral 186 indicates a colored transparent top portion made of glass, numeral 187 indicates electrode and numeral 188 indicates the filament. This time-indicating apparatus is fit for a car clock to be fixed to the instrument board in a car.

The time-indicating apparatuses described in the first and the second embodiments have such advantage that time can be easily identified even at a dark place or from a distance and is convenient especially for people of poor sight or infants. Particularly a wide indicating plane, a multiplied number of indicating plane or an incomprising chamber-like illumination cells having front dicating plane. visible from every. angle can beprovided onesetof aclock mechanism and a switching mechanism; Moreover, even if figures of indicating board are reflected ina mirror, there is no inconvenience to identify time by the apparatuses in this invention.

Furthermore, it can be photographed evenat a dark place,'time can be identified in aground at night or time can be photographedzat the same timeas the. on-

' thespot photographing in the ground by the eapparatuses in this invention. Furthermore, utilizing the timeindicating apparatus of the present invention as lighting equipment makes daily life convenientand-serviceable.

Furthermore, the time indicating apparatus by this invention serves to identify time at night and to drive safely if it isemployed in the drivers seat of various ve-' hicles and it is also utilizedas ornaments.

The switchingmechanism.described inthe third embodiment can be facilitated accruately byopening and closing of a-magnet and therefore canbe widely adopted for modifications of this.

The time-indicating apparatus byxr the electrolumi- "nescence panel in the fourth embodiment canbe real- -ized bothasa small size. watch such. as .a-wrist-watch and. as-a large size clock such asa wall clock.

The oscillator for-driving theYtime-indicating apparatus in the fifth embodiment isof' highpreciseness because of precise pulse-oscillating compensated with temperature by aplural of standard oscillators.

fThetime indicating board describedinlthesixth embodiment is convenient to make the time-indicatingapdescription and it will be apparent that changes-and variations may be made without departing from the spirit arid scopeof the following claims.

-Whatlclaim arez' f 1. A time-indicating apparatus comprising at least one time-iridicatingbody, Saidtime-indicating body surfaces, said cells being arranged for displaying the time by displaying the hour and minute of the day, said how and minute being displayed by successively controlled electric signals supplied to the respective illumination bodies of said illumination cells, the frontsur faces of the illumination cells being provided withcrystal-like cut patterns, the electric signals supplied tothe illumination bodies of illumination cells illuminating the hour indication for the duration of-an entire hour and successively changing to the next hour indication,

theelectric signal supply to the illumination bodiesof the illumination cellsilluminating the minute indication cumulatively with illuminating successive minute indications until a change in the hour indication occurs.

2. A time-indicating apparatus asset forth in claim 1 wherein the front surfaces of said illumination cells with said crystal-like cut patterns are interchangeable.

' 3. A time-indicating apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said chamber-like illumination cells. are pro: vided with different colors for said front surfacesto facilitate viewability of said apparatus to determine the time.

.4. A time-indicating"apparatusasset forth in claim l,

comprising a fiiced disc,a plate composed of a plurality of insulator, boards and a plurality ofi good. conductor boards, said; plurality of insulatorJboardsandsaid plurality of conductor. boards being multiples of ten and being placed on the circumference of said; fixed disc, a

rotary disclocated oppositelsaid fixed, disc, said rotary disc having. first and second; contactpieces,said con- 1 tact pieces being good conductors, said contact pieces l0 being separated by a distance equal to the. sum of the widths of pairs of insulator boards,- a plurality of rotary shafts correspondingto the hour minute andsecond of i the day, said rotarydisc being .connectedto any ,of said plurality of rotary. shafts, and a switch located between said fixed and rotary :discs.

5. Atime-indicatingapparatus as set forth inclaim 1 comprising a rotatable'gear forhour-indicating having a numberofteethequalto a.multiple of 12,.a gear for minute indicting engageable with said gear forhourin- .dicating, said gearfor.minuteindicatinghavinganumber of teeth equal to the multipleof twelve of thenumber of teeth .on saidhour-indicating gear.

.6. A timefindicating apparatus as setforthin claim 1,

. whereinamulti-contact point switchhavinga ratchet wheel with 12 teeth iszthreaded to one end of a drum,

saidteeth being rotatable by means of a feed pawl ,secured tea-driving leverdriven by an attraction piece intermitentlyattracted by a manget, a stepped plate having v12 steps being secured to the surface ,of said drum, '12-.switchi ng arms being disposed in contact with the surface of the drum, eachof said 12 switching arms corresponding. to. a ;respective step of said stepped plate, a common contact piece being disposed in a posi .tion'to make, contact with said switching armswhen said switching arms arepushedby said stepped plate, a pawl-shaped cam being threaded at the other end of said drum, said ratchetwheelbeing arranged so that it makes one twelfth of a revolution for each revolution of said cam, and a rotary contact piece, for contacting said 12 contact points, said rotary {contact piece being secured to. the shaft of said ratchetwheel.

7. A time-indicatingapparatus asset forth in claim 1, comprising a time-indicating board wherein transparent electrodes are placed at both .sides of an -electroluminous substance layer, a first electroluminscence' panel, a second electroluminescencepanel, said first and second panels-covering the periphery of said trans parent electrodes and being respectively disposeddat thehourand minute indicatingareas, time being indicated by the illumination otfelectroluminescerice panels in thehour and minute indicatinggareas byilluminatingtheelectroluminous substance with a-pulse voltage being applied to each electroluminescence.panel.

8. A time-indicating apparatus asset forthin claim 1,

' comprisingan, oscillator circuit having a plurality .of

frequency generating means, an adder connected to receive at least a plurality of input signals. of different fre- =quencies, a bandepass filter connected to said adder to a allow'only signals having-a predetermined frequency .to pass therethrough, and an amplitude regulating circuit I connected to the output-of said band-passfilter.

9. A=time+indicatingiapparatus as set forth in claim 1 comprising a time-indicating board having a plurality of hour-indicating sections, .each .of the hour-indicating sections-each of the-hour-indicating sections having the same color. as :each of the corresponding minuteindicating sections, each of the hour-indicating sections having different colors from the other of the hourindicating sections, said'time-indicating board being provided with crystal-like cut patterns, said cut patterns being located on the coloar transparent surface thereof.

10. A time-indicating apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said time-indicating body comprises two sections, a first of said two sections displaying the hour of the day and the second of said two sections displaying the minute of aday, said sections being linearly dis- 5 5 KTUNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE 0 CORRECTION Dated December 4, 1973" Mag um; 31773 .964-

abov-idntifid patent v d. as shown below:

V QQ) Shiqeru Fukumnfd It isfc eptified thaterror appea'r s in the;

am dthat said Letters Patent are hereby correcte Page 1-, e:r."['2l] Appl. No.: 171,434" ins e'rt new line 30] Forign;applicitioh priority data, gugustl l, 1970, v

1 wins 7o, Japan; may, 1971, 44 07771, Japan;

Signed gealed this 3rd day bf Decembet 1974.

MCCOY M4 "GIBSON -l J v 1 v c. MARSHA LL DANN i Y attesting pf-ricer Y C issioner-of Patents 

1. A time-indicating apparatus comprising at least one timeindicating body, said timE-indicating body comprising chamberlike illumination cells having front surfaces, said cells being arranged for displaying the time by displaying the hour and minute of the day, said hour and minute being displayed by successively controlled electric signals supplied to the respective illumination bodies of said illumination cells, the front surfaces of the illumination cells being provided with crystal-like cut patterns, the electric signals supplied to the illumination bodies of illumination cells illuminating the hour indication for the duration of an entire hour and successively changing to the next hour indication, the electric signal supply to the illumination bodies of the illumination cells illuminating the minute indication cumulatively with illuminating successive minute indications until a change in the hour indication occurs.
 2. A time-indicating apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the front surfaces of said illumination cells with said crystal-like cut patterns are interchangeable.
 3. A time-indicating apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said chamber-like illumination cells are provided with different colors for said front surfaces to facilitate viewability of said apparatus to determine the time.
 4. A time-indicating apparatus as set forth in claim 1, comprising a fixed disc, a plate composed of a plurality of insulator boards and a plurality of good conductor boards, said plurality of insulator boards and said plurality of conductor boards being multiples of ten and being placed on the circumference of said fixed disc, a rotary disc located opposite said fixed disc, said rotary disc having first and second contact pieces, said contact pieces being good conductors, said contact pieces being separated by a distance equal to the sum of the widths of pairs of insulator boards, a plurality of rotary shafts corresponding to the hour minute and second of the day, said rotary disc being connected to any of said plurality of rotary shafts, and a switch located between said fixed and rotary discs.
 5. A time-indicating apparatus as set forth in claim 1 comprising a rotatable gear for hour-indicating having a number of teeth equal to a multiple of 12, a gear for minute indicting engageable with said gear for hour indicating, said gear for minute indicating having a number of teeth equal to the multiple of twelve of the number of teeth on said hour-indicating gear.
 6. A time-indicating apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein a multi-contact point switch having a ratchet wheel with 12 teeth is threaded to one end of a drum, said teeth being rotatable by means of a feed pawl secured to a driving lever driven by an attraction piece intermitently attracted by a manget, a stepped plate having 12 steps being secured to the surface of said drum, 12 switching arms being disposed in contact with the surface of the drum. each of said 12 switching arms corresponding to a respective step of said stepped plate, a common contact piece being disposed in a position to make contact with said switching arms when said switching arms are pushed by said stepped plate, a pawl-shaped cam being threaded at the other end of said drum, said ratchet wheel being arranged so that it makes one twelfth of a revolution for each revolution of said cam, and a rotary contact piece for contacting said 12 contact points, said rotary contact piece being secured to the shaft of said ratchet wheel.
 7. A time-indicating apparatus as set forth in claim 1, comprising a time-indicating board wherein transparent electrodes are placed at both sides of an electroluminous substance layer, a first electroluminscence panel, a second electroluminescence panel, said first and second panels covering the periphery of said transparent electrodes and being respectively disposed at the hour and minute indicating areas, time being indicated by the illumination of electroluminescence panels in the hour and minute indicating areas by illuminating the electrolumiNous substance with a pulse voltage being applied to each electroluminescence panel.
 8. A time-indicating apparatus as set forth in claim 1, comprising an oscillator circuit having a plurality of frequency generating means, an adder connected to receive at least a plurality of input signals of different frequencies, a band-pass filter connected to said adder to allow only signals having a predetermined frequency to pass therethrough, and an amplitude regulating circuit connected to the output of said band-pass filter.
 9. A time-indicating apparatus as set forth in claim 1 comprising a time-indicating board having a plurality of hour-indicating sections, each of the hour-indicating sections, each of the hour-indicating sections having the same color as each of the corresponding minute-indicating sections, each of the hour-indicating sections having different colors from the other of the hour-indicating sections, said time-indicating board being provided with crystal-like cut patterns, said cut patterns being located on the coloar transparent surface thereof.
 10. A time-indicating apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said time-indicating body comprises two sections, a first of said two sections displaying the hour of the day and the second of said two sections displaying the minute of a day, said sections being linearly displayed.
 11. A time-indicating apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said time-indicating body comprises two sections, a first of said two sections displaying the hour of the day and the second of the two sections displaying the minute of the day. said two sections being co-axial with said hour display being located within said minute display. 